Foreign Affairs Commission Under the CPC Central Committee
In March 2018, the CPC Central Committee released the Plan for Deepening the Reform of Party and Government Institutions. In line with this document, the Leading Group for Foreign Affairs under the Central Committee was turned into the Foreign Affairs Commission to take charge of top-level design, overall planning and coordination, and progressing external work on all fronts, and to oversee the execution of all relevant tasks. The commission has Xi Jinping as the head, and the work is done by an executive office.
The commission met for the first time on May 15, 2018. Xi said at the meeting that China faces both opportunities and challenges in a world of increasing uncertainty and instability. So it needs to observe the dictates of a changing international situation, follow the development trends of China as well as of the wider world, be aware of the risks and challenges ahead, and take preventive measures to ensure that potential problems are properly addressed. He urged better diplomatic planning, implementation of plans for major diplomatic activities, enhanced awareness of risks, and firm safeguarding of national sovereignty, security and development interests. He also demanded strengthening of the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over foreign affairs, acquiring an accurate understanding of the current international situation, and forging ahead to open new prospects of major-country diplomacy with distinctive Chinese characteristics, so as to contribute to the realization of the Two Centennial Goals and the Chinese Dream of national renewal.
中央外事工作委员会
2018年3月，中共中央印发了《深化党和国家机构改革方案》。根据该方案， 中央外事工作领导小组改为中央外事工作委员会，负责外事领域重大工作的顶层设计、总体布局、统筹协调、整体推进、督促落实。中央外事工作委员会主任为习近平，办事机构是中央外事工作委员会办公室。2018年5月15日，中央外事工作委员会第一次会议召开。习近平在讲话中指出，当今世界不确定不稳定因素增多，中国发展面临的机遇和挑战并存。中国要准确把握国际形势变化的规律，既认清中国和世界发展大势，又看到前进道路上面临的风险挑战，未雨绸缪、妥善应对，切实做好工作。要深化外交布局，落实重大外交活动规划，增强风险意识，坚定维护国家主权、安全、发展利益。要加强党中央对外事工作的集中统一领导，准确把握当前国际形势发展变化，锐意进取、开拓创新，努力开创中国特色大国外交新局面，为实现“两个一百年”奋斗目标、实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦作出更大贡献。